-e kadar

Until and as Far as

Level 3

The postposition -e kadar marks a limit. In time, it means 'until' (e.g., until morning). In space, it means 'as far as' or 'up to' (e.g., as far as the park).

How It Works

The pattern -e kadar is a postposition, meaning it always follows the noun it modifies. It is used in two primary ways:

  • Temporal (Time): It marks the end of a duration. For example, akşama kadar (until evening).
  • Spatial (Space): It marks a physical destination or limit. For example, okula kadar (as far as the school).

Morphology:
1. Apply two-way vowel harmony to the noun to add the dative suffix (-e or -a).
2. Add the word kadar.

Pronouns:
When used with personal pronouns to mean 'up to me/you', you must use the dative forms (bana kadar, sana kadar, ona kadar). Note that this is different from the comparative use (benim kadar), which takes the genitive.

Formal Variations:
In formal or literary Turkish, you may see -e dek or -e değin. These function identically to -e kadar and also require the dative case.

Examples (5)

  1. Sabaha kadar ders çalıştım.

    I studied until morning.

    Word by Word: Morning-to until lesson I-worked.

    Here, 'sabah' takes the dative '-a' to show the temporal limit of the studying.

  2. Parka kadar beraber yürüyelim mi?

    Shall we walk together as far as the park?

    Word by Word: Park-to until together let-us-walk [question]?

    In this spatial context, it emphasizes reaching the park as the endpoint of the walk.

  3. Ona kadar sayabilir misin?

    Can you count up to ten?

    Word by Word: Ten-to until can-you-count?

    Numbers also take the dative case when used with 'kadar' to show a limit.

  4. Buraya kadar her şey yolunda.

    Everything is fine up to here.

    Word by Word: Here-to until every thing in-way.

    This uses the demonstrative 'buraya' (to here) to set an abstract limit.

  5. Akşama kadar vaktim var.

    I have time until evening.

    Word by Word: Evening-to until my-time there-is.

    A common way to express availability or deadlines.

Common Mistakes

  • Dropping the dative case suffix.

    Okul kadar yürüdüm.
    Okula kadar yürüdüm.

    You must always attach the dative suffix (-e/-a) to the noun before 'kadar' when expressing a limit.

  • Using the genitive case for pronouns when expressing a limit.

    Benim kadar gel.
    Bana kadar gel.

    'Benim kadar' means 'as much as me' (comparison). To say 'as far as me' or 'up to me', you must use the dative 'bana kadar'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-e kadarLevel 3Until and as Far as

Learn This First

To understand '-e kadar' (until/as far as), you must first be comfortable with the Dative Case (-(y)e), as this pattern functions as a postposition that governs that specific case. You also need to understand Two-Way Vowel Harmony to correctly choose between '-e' and '-a', and the use of the buffer consonant '-y-' for words ending in vowels.

Words in This Pattern

kadar